What was traded on the silk road?

Silk trade consisted of a variety of goods. Many of the goods were expensive and rare. This made them expensive to transport. In addition to silk, traders also traded ivory and wool, as well as gold and silver. They would travel in large caravans and were often protected by guards. Many camels were used to carry the goods. The Han Dynasty promoted the silk trade and expanded it greatly. Silk was first manufactured in China around 3,000 B.C. It was the perfect overland trade item for merchant and diplomatic caravans. According to Xin Wen, an historian of Inner Asia and medieval China, Chinese silk was coveted by the Roman elite. Later, a reversible silk textile known as damask was created by artisans in Damascus. The Silk Road connected Asia to the western world. It was a trade route that stretched over 4,000 miles. It passed through the Gobi Desert and the Pamir Mountains. Although this route was largely unmaintained, it was used by traders to transport goods. Traders would travel in caravans and pack animals, which protected them from thieves and other dangers. Caravanseiras were also built to accommodate the travelling merchants. The Silk Road was also a conduit for ideas and religions. Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam were all spread across the Silk Road. This enabled contact between cultures that had previously been remote.